Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Here is how i am doing my rear sway bar, started with henrys bolt system, but need to weld,

So i made these, only thing is that spacer is 3/4 inch, hope i can get bushing on. packard spacer was under 5/8s.

if you see a third plate, i screwed up trying to mill off head of spacer.

then i put plate in lathe to true it up, the heads of bolts will need to be turned down,, and nut will see about nut, going to try to get cotter pin in.

the bolts are grade 8, using 7/16-20 ,,2 inches long, will need to be turned down.

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This is on my fall list for Duane to tackle.

Please, please give more (all) the details including what specifically you used for bushings......part numbers if possible....

It may all be obvious to you, but this is something any V8 owner needs to consider and some of us have 12 thumbs....

It's a very tight fit I hope your idea works

I did my rear sway bar center plate somewhat differently, and more simply. I ground off the rivet heads on one side, removed the plate and drilled and threaded the posts for capscrews to reattach. You need a fairly thin-headed bolt (or grind the head) because of the clearance. That sway bar works hard and I've found that the regular bushings in soft rubber only last a year or two, so I used polygraphited urethane shock eye bushings from Kanters. They aren't cataloged parts so you'll have to make a special request for Stu Blond for them - they have them.

OD,

That would be easier, i didn't know that only one side was welded, with the under coat gunk could not see,, i know now,

Uh, guys! It's not a "sway bar"! It's an inverted Watts linkage. Its purpose has nothing to do with anti-sway in the rear end, but it is merely for centrally locating the rear axle during all limits of motion.

Of course, that doesn't make restoring it any easier.

Craig

Henry,

I need to turn down nut and head of bolt, but i am changing to 2 nuts, then i can get rid of washer.

And i might have to cut the 3/4 and use 5/8, if i can't get bushings on 3/4.

on the rear side of bracket i might extend it 1/8 inch, rear meaning facing gas tank, that will give me a little more room to get a cotter pin it nut.

then i think i will do what OD did,, shock bushing. the bushings i ordered from Max i will use as model to make molds,
and make my own out of Durathane.

Pat,

OD has the better way to go , on bushings and easier way to get it back together.


Packard part numbers,

445389,,need 2,,max merritt 12.50 each

445340 need 8, 5.00 each max merritt

either way ,, i will make whatever you need...NO CHARGE!!,,

Craig,

tried to change it to,, inverted watts linkage,, Packard calls it stabilizer ,,,,

riki Quote:

Yup. In any case, it's not a "sway bar". It's purpose is to keep the "track bar only" rear axle assembly centrally located under side forces due to cornering.

On my Panther project, I will have a separate rear anti-sway bar because I have increased the diameter of the front anti-sway bar from 3/4IN to 1IN. This requires some rear anti-sway to keep the car balanced in turns. The exact size will require some on road testing.

Crai